Herpetologist Siouxsie applies her make up with the helping hand of a tarantula

Calling it the Secret Sanctuary, they hope to educate people and change their attitudes and phobias towards these misunderstood animals.

Siouxsie said: “We have several venomous snakes here at the moment including three Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and we also have a Malayan Viper. “The Malayan Viper is our most venomous snake here and this species actually kills quite a lot of people".

Their home is open to the public as they hope to educate people about reptiles

“Once we have taken the dogs for a walk and fed them then we start working on the daily chopping of fruit and veg. Then we start cleaning the animals out and that can take us anywhere from 4-6 hours depending on mess levels.”

It may be surprising to hear that all of the couple’s neighbours have been to visit and are all clued in on their reptile neighbours. But security plays a large factor in the couple and the nearby residents' safety.

Siouxsie said: "It may be surprising to hear that all of the couple’s neighbours have been to visit and are all clued in on their reptile neighbours"

Simon said: “I have been bitten by a copperhead snake twice, which isn’t too bad in 25 years of dealing with snakes but it was a real eye opener.

“I don’t want to go through it again and I was lucky I didn’t lose any digits but it was two weeks of hell - my arms swelled up to the size of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s and started to turn black. The pain is like putting your hand into boiling water or fire and just as you think the pain is easing, times it by a hundred again.”

However the shocking incident hasn’t put the couple off working or living with reptiles as they recently ventured out to the tropical city of Durban, South Africa to work in the dangerous, adrenaline-filled business of catching problem snakes, which they later release back into the wild.

But the couple don't only pay with their health as maintaining their home and all of the residents comes at a price and the couple rarely have the opportunity to leave their work for a holiday.

Ms Gillett explains: “Living and working in a sanctuary works out as a job of passion, it’s a job of love.

The fearless couple own several venomous snakes that can kill with just one bite

"We’ve never been millionaires doing this, we never make any money to be honest and any money we do make goes straight back to the animals.”

“It does also impact your life because it’s a constant job, 24/7. On a day off I might just pop down to check an animal and before you know it you’ve done three to four hours of work and pretty much spent your day there!”

She added: “We can’t get a holiday because some people don’t mind feeding their neighbours' fish but we can’t ask them to feed the cobras, the mambas and the big lizards.”

The neighbours may not be willing to look after the couple’s many pets but most family members have become accustomed to the scaly creatures, although Siouxsie’s mum is still unhappy with the herpetologists passion for reptiles.